Loose-leaf binder



Feb. 17, 1523. 1,5261673 C? F. McB

Loos LEAF Brumm -FilAed may .'11, 1922.

CHHRLfs F M5 55:.

DoosoN d Raf TTORIEYS Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. MCBEE, `OF ATHENS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO MCBEE BINDER COMPANY,OF,

ATHENS, OHIO.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application led May 11, 1922.

T all whom it may conce/Mi Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MGBEE, 'acitizen of the United States, and residing at Athens, in the county ofAthens and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Loose-Leaf Binders.

My invention relates to the binding art and particularly to loose leafbinders and has for its object to produce a binder of this characterwherein the upper cover will, when desired, be lirmly and securelylocked in position or which can be easily and quickly removed therefromwithout necessity of disturbing the binder or the papers. A furtherobject is to produce a device of this character wherein the upper covermay be released and removed from the binding posts without the necessityof elevating the cover upwardly over the posts.

My invention consists of certain details of construction hereinafter setforth pointed out in my claim and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my binder with sheetstherein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the plane of the binding posts; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 With the upper coverremoved from the binding posts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the reference numeral 10 is usedto indicate the lower cover of my binder with a plurality of bindingposts 11 extending upwardly therefrom. The numeral 12 indicates theupper cover which is slotted inwardly at 13 and 14, from the rear end toreceive the respective binding posts. These slots are preferably formedby beveling the cover at each side at the points where the slots enter,thereby facilitating, and making easy, the entrance of the binding postsinto their respective slots. These slots are also formed of such a depththat when the posts engage the cover at the base of the slots the upperand lower covers will be in correct alignment.

The numerals 15 and 16 indicate leaf springs which are secured to theupper cover, each of which is designed to register with, and slightlyoverlap, its respective slot Serial No. 560,269.

inthe cover. Guide arms 17 and 18 are preferably formed on theirrespective springs. The numerals 19 and 20 indicate levers secured t0the upper cover and designed to underlie their respective springs 17 and18, these levers being-so formed that they may be easily turned so as toelevate their respective springs.

The construction of the parts is such that the leaf springs, in slightlyoverlying their respective slots, cause the distance between the sidesof the slots furthest away from the ends of the spring, and the ends ofthe springs to be slightly less than the diameter of the binding posts.Therefore when these springs are not held upwardly against their tensionby their respective levers, the binding posts could not enter the slots.ever when the springs are held in their upward position by the levers,the ends of the springs are then either in correct alignment with theirrespective sides of their respective slots or do not overlie the slots,thereby permitting the binding posts to easily enter the slots.

The papers to be filed having been properly placed upon the bindingposts, the upper cover is then placed in position, the posts engagingthe slots as hereinbefore described. The levers retaining the leafspring in their upward position are then released permitting the tensionof the springs to force them downwardly against the sides of theirrespective binding posts thereby firmly locking the cover to the binder.

In my drawings I have shown the preferable construction but it isobvious that minor changes may be made, such as the position of thesprings and the like, without altering my invention and I do not desireto be understood as limiting this application except as set forth in theappended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is:

A loose leaf binder comprising a lower cover with upwardly projectingfile posts thereon: an upper cover slotted to register with and receivethe posts when the covers are in proper alinement: clasp springs securedto the upper cover and adapted to automatically lock themselves to theirrcspec- Howtive posts when they are released from their retaininglevers; retaining levers secured to the cover and adapted t0 engagetheir respective clasp springs and held thein ont of engagement withtheir respective posts, the construction and arrangement of the springsand levers being such that the tension of the springs whenreleased bythe levers will force the ends of the levers against the opposite sideof their respective posts thus binding` 10 the post on reverse sidesthereof.

CHARLES` F. MCBEE. Witnesses:

GWENDOLYN JAMES, H. R. RAMsEY.;

